🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 110 (from laksa073)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa110.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev","crawl_time":1775877764,"first_indexed_time":1635768287,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"ca,driving!\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev s443","src_root_hash":"6069851691822508910","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Electric SUV Review: 2021 Kia Niro EV | Driving","meta_descriptions":["It drives more like a conventional car, but completely fuel-free"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Skip to Content\nCar Finder\nMost Popular Cars\nTesla Model Y\nHonda Civic\nToyota RAV4\nTesla Model 3\nHonda CR-V\nToyota Corolla Cross\nFord F-150\nNissan Kicks\nFord Bronco\nSubaru Crosstrek\nCar Rankings 2026\nBest SUVs\nBest Luxury SUVs\nMost Efficient Plug-in Hybrid SUVs\nBest Hybrid SUVs\nCheapest Electric Cars\nCar Rankings 2025\nBest SUVs\nCheapest Electric Cars\nBest Hybrid SUVs\nMost Efficient Plug-in Hybrid SUVs\nBest Luxury SUVs\nCar Rankings 2024\nBest SUVs\nCheapest Electric Cars\nBest Hybrid SUVs\nMost Efficient Plug-in Hybrid SUVs\nBest Luxury SUVs\nBrands\nAcura\nAlfa Romeo\nAston Martin\nAudi\nBentley\nBMW\nBuick\nCadillac\nChevrolet\nChrysler\nDodge\nFerrari\nFiat\nFisker\nFord\nGenesis\nGMC\nHonda\nHyundai\nInfiniti\nJaguar\nJeep\nKia\nLamborghini\nLand Rover\nLexus\nLincoln\nLotus\nLucid\nMaserati\nMazda\nMcLaren\nMercedes-Benz\nMini\nNissan\nMitsubishi\nNissan\nPolestar\nPorsche\nRam\nRivian\nRoll-Royce\nSubaru\nTesla\nToyota\nVinfast\nVolkswagen\nVolvo\nReviews\nPreviews\nFirst Drives\nRoad Tests\nComparison Tests\nRoad Trips\nReader Reviews\nOwner Reviews\nUsed Vehicle Guides\nAdvice\nMaintenance\nSafety\nInsurance\nGear Guide\nWinter Driving\nShopping Advice\nNew Car Deals\nBest in Class\nMore Features\nNews\nNew Vehicles\nTechnology\nAwards and Surveys\nInfo For Drivers\nIndustry News\nEntertainment\nCrash, Bang, Wow\nLocal News\nAuto Shows\nDriving en Français\nExperts\nMotor Mouth\nLorraine Explains\nBest-Selling Cars\nTroubleshooter\nCorner Wrench\nHow It Works\nPlugged In\nDriving into the Future\nOn the Road\nCollector Classics\nCar Culture\nSpeed & Performance\nVintage & Collectible\nOff-roading\nTechnology & Innovation\nSustainability\nPeople\nTravel\nTop 10s and Lists\nVehicle Types\nPickup Trucks\nLuxury Vehicles\nSupercars\nElectric Vehicles\nHybrids\nFamily Vehicles\nAffordable Vehicles\nPerformance Vehicles\nClassic Cars & Trucks\nUsed Vehicles\nMotorcycles\nVideo\nPodcasts\nNewsletters\nProfile\nSettings\nSaved Articles\nNewsletters\nCustomer Service\nFAQ\nCar Finder\nReviews\nAdvice\nNews\nExperts\nCar Culture\nVehicle Types\nVideo\nPodcasts\nNewsletters\nHome\nRoad Tests\nElectric Vehicles\nElectric SUV Review: 2021 Kia Niro EV\nIt drives more like a conventional car, but completely fuel-free\nLast updated Nov 05, 2021\nYou can save this article by registering for free\nhere\n. Or\nsign-in\nif you have an account.\n2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring\nPhoto by Jil McIntosh\nIn the automobile’s earliest days, electric cars could be as popular as gasoline ones. They didn’t have a lot of range, but there weren’t many roads anyway. Their big deal was that, unlike a gas car that had to be cranked, they were just get-in-and-go.\nOnce gas engines could start themselves, the electric car pretty much disappeared. But now it’s back and almost all auto manufacturers offer one or have one on the way, and at Kia, you can choose my tester, the 2021 Niro EV.\nAlong with all-electric, the Niro is also available as a gas-electric hybrid, or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that can go about 42 km on its battery alone, before reverting to hybrid operation when that charge runs out.\nFull Screen is not supported on this browser version.\nYou may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.\nMotor Mouth\nNew Vehicles\nReviews\nShopping Advice\nInfo For Drivers\nThe Niro EV’s officially-rated range is 385 km, and mine showed as high as 426 km when fully charged. As with any vehicle, exactly how far you get depends on several factors, including ambient temperature and how you drive. Battery vehicles are rated in Le\/100 km, for\nlitres equivalent — \nelectric energy translated to a comparable amount of gasoline. The Niro EV comes in at 2.1 Le\/100 km, a virtual match to rivals like the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona Electric.\nThe three Niro trims start at $44,995 for the EX, and $50,695 for the EX Plus. My top-line SX Touring is $54,695. Unless you want your Niro painted black, you’ll have to add $250 for any other colour.\nIn all areas, it qualifies for the federal government’s $5,000 “green” rebate. In specific provinces, you can also add a provincial rebate of between $3,000 and $8,000.\nThe Niro powers its front wheels using an electric motor that makes 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, with a single-speed transmission. Electric motors produce their peak torque immediately — unlike a gas engine, which needs to rev up — and the Niro is a peppy thing that more than holds its own in city traffic, or if you want to pass on the highway.\nIt drives like a conventional car, with smooth and accurate steering, and well-controlled cornering on curves — since its heavy 64-kW battery is under the floor, it has a low centre of gravity. The regenerative brakes put some power back into the battery whenever you slow down, and you can increase or decrease the level using wheel-mounted paddles. Combine them with the auto-hold function, and you can achieve “one-pedal” driving, where you use the throttle to accelerate, and then the paddles to slow and stop. But it takes practice and I found the novelty wore off quickly, and I went back to the brake pedal.\nThe Niro comes with a 7.2-kW onboard charger, and a DC fast-charge port is standard equipment. Most owners will likely install a Level 2 (240-volt) home charger, which is what you get at most public charging stations. On that, a full charge from a depleted battery takes about 9.5 hours.\nMost owners charge at home, but for long trips they want fast-charge infrastructure, and that remains the Achilles’ heel for EVs. It’s growing, but still has a long way to go. I needed one that took credit cards, since I’m not signed up for a charging network, but not all do. It’s fine for charging companies to offer quick-pay apps as a loyalty program, but\nevery\nstation needs to accommodate casual users, just as gas stations do.\nFull Screen is not supported on this browser version.\nYou may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.\nMy local station had four fast chargers, but only one was fully operational and I had to wait for someone to finish using it. It was daylight and outside a large store, but a lot of them are pretty lonely at night,\nas writer Kristen Lee pointed out in a story.\nJust as with the earliest few-and-far-between gas stations, we’re along way from full convenience.\nBut those are issues with\nall\nelectric cars, and getting back to the Niro, there’s a lot I really like about this little machine — especially its simplicity. So many EVs stick the equivalent of big-screen TV in the centre stack, requiring you to search for and tap an icon to do anything. Most of the Niro’s controls are conventional buttons and dials for the climate and other functions, and they’re easy to use, quick to find, and with little distraction. My complaint is the metallic accent strip bisecting the dash. It’s blinding when the sun hits it, and it’s very tiring to drive any distance with that in your eyes.\nThe comfortable front seats include plenty of legroom. The second-row chairs are okay if not spectacular for space, and the cargo area is generous. Features on the top-line trim include a sunroof, leather seats, premium stereo, and navigation, along with front and rear heated seats, cooled front seats, and heated steering wheel. Those use a lot of power, but if your butt and hands are comfortable, you’re more likely to turn down the cabin climate, which uses even more juice.\nElectric cars aren’t for everyone, but then, neither are two-seater sports cars or one-ton pickups, and those are viable for many. If you’re looking at plug-in, look at the Niro. It’s a great little driver, so plug it into your test-drive list and see if it’s the one for you.\nSign up for our newsletter\nBlind-Spot Monitor\nand follow our social channels on\nX\n,\nTiktok\nand\nLinkedIn\nto stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.\nJil McIntosh\nJil McIntosh specializes in new-car reviews, auto technology and antique cars, including the two 1940s vehicles in her garage. She is currently a freelance Writer at Driving.ca since 2016\nSummary\n· Professional writer for more than 35 years, appearing in some of the top publications in Canada and the U.S.\n· Specialties include new-vehicle reviews, old cars and automotive history, automotive news, and “How It Works” columns that explain vehicle features and technology\n· Member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) since 2003; voting member for AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards; juror on the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards\nEducation\nJil McIntosh graduated from East York Collegiate in Toronto, and then continued her education at the School of Hard Knocks. Her early jobs including driving a taxi in Toronto; and warranty administration in a new-vehicle dealership, where she also held information classes for customers, explaining the inner mechanical workings of vehicles and their features.\nExperience\nJil McIntosh is a freelance writer who has been writing for Driving.ca since 2016, but she’s been a professional writer starting when most cars still had carburetors. At the age of eleven, she had a story published in the defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper, for which she was paid $25; given the short length of the story and the dollar’s buying power at the time, that might have been the relatively best-paid piece she’s ever written.\nAn old-car enthusiast who owns a 1947 Cadillac and 1949 Studebaker truck, she began her writing career crafting stories for antique-car and hot-rod car club magazines. When the Ontario-based newspaper Old Autos started up in 1987, dedicated to the antique-car hobby, she became a columnist starting with its second issue; the newspaper is still around and she still writes for it. Not long after the Toronto Star launched its Wheels section in 1986 – the first Canadian newspaper to include an auto section – she became one of its regular writers. She started out writing feature stories, and then added “new-vehicle reviewer” to her resume in 1999. She stayed with Wheels, in print and later digital as well, until the publication made a cost-cutting decision to shed its freelance writers. She joined Driving.ca the very next day.\nIn addition to Driving.ca, she writes for industry-focused publications, including Automotive News Canada and Autosphere. Over the years, her automotive work also appeared in such publications as Cars & Parts, Street Rodder, Canadian Hot Rods, AutoTrader, Sharp, Taxi News, Maclean’s, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes Wheels, Canadian Driver, Sympatico Autos, and Reader’s Digest. Her non-automotive work, covering such topics as travel, food and drink, rural living, fountain pen collecting, and celebrity interviews, has appeared in publications including Harrowsmith, Where New Orleans, Pen World, The Book for Men, Rural Delivery, and Gambit.\nMajor awards won by the author\n2016 AJAC Journalist of the Year; Car Care Canada \/ CAA Safety Journalism award winner in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, runner-up in 2021; Pirelli Photography Award 2015; Environmental Journalism Award 2019; Technical Writing Award 2020; Vehicle Testing Review award 2020, runner-up in 2022; Feature Story award winner 2020; inducted into the Street Rodding Hall of Fame in 1994.\nContact info\nEmail: jil@ca.inter.net\nLinkedin: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jilmcintosh\/\nTwitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/JilMcIntosh\nThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about\ncookies here\n. 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[Electric Vehicles](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/vehicle-types\/electric-vehicles\/)\n\n- [![Share via email](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-circle-email.svg)](mailto:?Subject=I%20saw%20this%20on%20Driving&Body=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev)\n- [![Reddit](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-rdit.svg)](https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?kind=link&url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title= \"Share on Reddit in new tab\")\n- [![X](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-tw.svg)](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&text=Driving&via=drivingdotca \"Share on X in new tab\")\n- [![Share on Linkedin](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-li.svg)](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev \"Share on LinkedIn\")\n- ![Open more share options](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-circle-share.svg)\n  ![Close](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/common-icon\/icon-close-black.svg)\n  \n  Share this Story : Driving\n  \n  - [Copy Link](https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev)\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-circle-email.svg) Email](mailto:?Subject=I%20saw%20this%20on%20Driving&Body=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev \"Share via email\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-tw.svg) X](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&text=Driving&via=drivingdotca \"Share on X in new tab\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-rdit.svg) Reddit](https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?kind=link&url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title=Driving \"Share on Reddit in new tab\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-pin.svg) Pinterest](https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&media=https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg \"Share on Pinterest in new tab\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-li.svg) LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev \"Share on LinkedIn in new tab\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-tblr.svg) Tumblr](https:\/\/www.tumblr.com\/widgets\/share\/tool?canonicalUrl=https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title=Driving \"Share on Tumblr in new tab\")\n\n# Electric SUV Review: 2021 Kia Niro EV\nIt drives more like a conventional car, but completely fuel-free\n\nAuthor of the article:\n\nBy [Jil McIntosh](https:\/\/driving.ca\/author\/jilmcintosh\/)\n\nPublished Nov 01, 2021\n\nLast updated Nov 05, 2021\n\n4 minute read\n\n[Join the conversation](https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev#comments-area)\n\nYou can save this article by registering for free [here](https:\/\/driving.ca\/register\/). Or [sign-in](https:\/\/driving.ca\/sign-in\/) if you have an account.\n\n![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=375&h=211&sig=QRtEn6aJlNvHVKoPeW9YiA)\n\n2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring Photo by Jil McIntosh\n\nArticle content\n\nIn the automobile’s earliest days, electric cars could be as popular as gasoline ones. They didn’t have a lot of range, but there weren’t many roads anyway. Their big deal was that, unlike a gas car that had to be cranked, they were just get-in-and-go.\n\nArticle content\n\nOnce gas engines could start themselves, the electric car pretty much disappeared. But now it’s back and almost all auto manufacturers offer one or have one on the way, and at Kia, you can choose my tester, the 2021 Niro EV.\n\nArticle content\n\n![Loading...](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/common\/icon-spinner-animated.svg)\n\nWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.\n\nTry refreshing your browser, or  \n[tap here to see other videos from our team](https:\/\/driving.ca\/video-centre\/ \"Video Centre\").\n\n##### 2021 Kia Niro EV \\| SUV Review \\| Driving.ca Back to video\n![Close sticky video]()\n\n![Loading...](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/common\/icon-spinner-animated.svg)\n\nWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.\n\nTry refreshing your browser, or  \n[tap here to see other videos from our team](https:\/\/driving.ca\/video-centre\/ \"Video Centre\").\n\nPause Video\n\n2021 Kia Niro EV \\| SUV Review \\| Driving.ca\n\nIn the automobile’s earliest days, electric cars could be as popular as gasoline ones. They didn’t have a lot of range, but there weren’t many roads anyway. Their big deal was that, unlike a gas car that had to be cranked, they were just get-in-and-go. Once gas engines could start themselves, the electric car pretty much disappeared. But now it’s back and almost all auto manufacturers offer one or have one on the way, and at Kia, you can choose my tester, the 2021 Niro EV. Along with all-electric, the Niro is also available as a gas-electric hybrid, or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that can go about 42 km on its battery alone, before reverting to hybrid operation when that charge runs out. For the full story, check out Driving.ca \\#electricvehicles \\#allelectric\n\n0 of 5 minutes, 24 secondsVolume 0%\n\nPress shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts\n\nKeyboard Shortcuts\n\nEnabledDisabled\n\nShortcuts Open\/Close\/ or ?\n\nPlay\/PauseSPACE\n\nIncrease Volume↑\n\nDecrease Volume↓\n\nSeek Forward→\n\nSeek Backward←\n\nCaptions On\/Offc\n\nFullscreen\/Exit Fullscreenf\n\nMute\/Unmutem\n\nDecrease Caption Size\\-\n\nIncrease Caption Size\\+ or =\n\nSeek %0-9\n\nNext Up\n\n2026 Kia EV4 vs Nissan Leaf \\| EV Comparison \\| Driving.ca\n\n25:30\n\nSubtitle Settings\n\nOff\n\nAutomated Captions - en-US\n\nFont Color\n\nWhite\n\nFont Opacity\n\n100%\n\nFont Size\n\n100%\n\nFont Family\n\nsans-serif\n\nCharacter Edge\n\nNone\n\nEdge Color\n\nBlack\n\nBackground Color\n\nBlack\n\nBackground Opacity\n\n75%\n\nWindow Color\n\nBlack\n\nWindow 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Driving.ca\n\n04:56\n\nWinter testing the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 in -20! \\| Long-Term Test Wrap-Up \\| Driving.ca\n\nClose\n\nArticle content\n\nAdvertisement 1\n\nStory continues below\n\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\n\nArticle content\n\nAlong with all-electric, the Niro is also available as a gas-electric hybrid, or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that can go about 42 km on its battery alone, before reverting to hybrid operation when that charge runs out.\n\nArticle content\n\nToggle full screen mode\n\nPrevious Gallery Image\n\n1. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-29.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=vUERp8al6sPBvkPpj9GMtw)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n2. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-32.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=8ACdY9h29q2qvr4gxg8BHw)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n3. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-39.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=7ibsr1uRxhYqxt5Qjol3sQ)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n4. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-38.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=yRri1ZxbFVvytASWmMExtA)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n5. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-37.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=H3Cbnq2ywW2FJbodE-DsSw)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n6. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=Jj1eiwni7daNoWphWJWWFw)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n7. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-35.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=WPMcozUGOuQARCQ9OZc2Aw)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n8. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-34.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=xrl0bcNLLohanfG8iciv4Q)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n9. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-33.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=cuij8s0d5Rr_Hj8s7TXh4A)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n10. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-31.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=s2ELOaQxedbJGss3DjYcxg)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n11. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-30.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=MIr9CeMLNE3pN6A3L1HLDw)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n12. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-28.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=ykKhTK8p2MDjCWA-usp-ew)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n13. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-27.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=WEev6z0i-GgFbz25tekyLQ)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n14. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-26.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=wl4VstfrwLRP4yIa7jz8Hg)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n15. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-25.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=DrijGLfTYqmqw8-XlI8BhQ)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n16. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-24.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=OlQNy5I0uzpvgp1hDUNd3g)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n17. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-23.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=7CPajkmkWYYpdU3WRPYPag)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n18. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-22.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=aXPq_Eudj4PuSdnFVpR2pg)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n\nNext Gallery Image\n\nToggle gallery captions\n\n![thumbnails](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/common-icon\/icon-thumbnails-black.svg) View All 18 Photos\n\n1 of 18\n\n![Close](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/common-icon\/icon-close-black.svg)\n\nAll 18 Photos for Gallery\n\n1. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 1]()\n2. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 2]()\n3. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 3]()\n4. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 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[8 U.S.-built vehicles you can’t buy in Canada due to tariffs](https:\/\/driving.ca\/features\/shopping-advice\/canada-u-s-tariff-counter-not-sold-pulled-discontinued-buy-dealership)\n   \n   [![Start of production for the Volvo EX90](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Volvo-EX90.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=WyZAND_dXzRyADnL0uNXaQ)](https:\/\/driving.ca\/features\/shopping-advice\/canada-u-s-tariff-counter-not-sold-pulled-discontinued-buy-dealership)\n   \n   [Shopping Advice](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/features\/shopping-advice\/)\n5. [Nissan asks owners to stop charging new Leaf EVs](https:\/\/driving.ca\/auto-news\/driver-info\/2026-nissan-leaf-ev-electric-battery-fire-risk-recall-short-circuit-canada)\n   \n   [![2026 Nissan Leaf](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/250308_All-new_Nissan_LEAF_Dynamic_Pictures_16.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=XVQ94JG5bmAxTp7zwxfx_A)](https:\/\/driving.ca\/auto-news\/driver-info\/2026-nissan-leaf-ev-electric-battery-fire-risk-recall-short-circuit-canada)\n   \n   [Info For Drivers](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/auto-news\/driver-info\/)\n\nAdvertisement 2\n\nAdvertisement\n\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\n\nArticle content\n\nThe Niro EV’s officially-rated range is 385 km, and mine showed as high as 426 km when fully charged. As with any vehicle, exactly how far you get depends on several factors, including ambient temperature and how you drive. Battery vehicles are rated in Le\/100 km, for *litres equivalent —* electric energy translated to a comparable amount of gasoline. The Niro EV comes in at 2.1 Le\/100 km, a virtual match to rivals like the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona Electric.\n\nArticle content\n\nArticle content\n\n## Learn more about the cars\nPREV\n\n1. [2026 Kia Niro EV 2026 Kia Niro EV 3.75 out of 5 ![](https:\/\/d2ivfcfbdvj3sm.cloudfront.net\/R3a6GqmduW0wBMdA\/56507\/stills_0640_png\/MY2025\/56507\/56507_st0640_116.webp?c=172&p=164&m=1&o=png&s=85gl4F1dIXGwsz1D0I_o6n) MSRP \\$45,595 to \\$53,595](https:\/\/driving.ca\/kia\/niro-ev\/)\n   \n   Add to Compare\n   \n   Remove Vehicle\n\nNEXT\n\nArticle content\n\nRead More\n\n1. [![Latest Details: 2022 Kia EV6](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ev6-9.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=jveVyUu8Sbwa6QVfPnSdbA) Latest Details: 2022 Kia EV6](https:\/\/driving.ca\/auto-news\/news\/latest-details-2022-kia-ev6)\n2. [![Commuter Review: 2021 Kia Forte5](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Forte52.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=LIACj-YREyqk89bGVqLLFg) Commuter Review: 2021 Kia Forte5](https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/commuter-review-2021-kia-forte5)\n3. Advertisement 1\n   \n   Story continues below\n   \n   This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\n\nArticle content\n\nThe three Niro trims start at \\$44,995 for the EX, and \\$50,695 for the EX Plus. My top-line SX Touring is \\$54,695. Unless you want your Niro painted black, you’ll have to add \\$250 for any other colour.\n\nArticle content\n\nIn all areas, it qualifies for the federal government’s \\$5,000 “green” rebate. In specific provinces, you can also add a provincial rebate of between \\$3,000 and \\$8,000.\n\nArticle content\n\nThe Niro powers its front wheels using an electric motor that makes 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, with a single-speed transmission. Electric motors produce their peak torque immediately — unlike a gas engine, which needs to rev up — and the Niro is a peppy thing that more than holds its own in city traffic, or if you want to pass on the highway.\n\nArticle content\n\nAdvertisement 2\n\nStory continues below\n\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\n\nArticle content\n\nIt drives like a conventional car, with smooth and accurate steering, and well-controlled cornering on curves — since its heavy 64-kW battery is under the floor, it has a low centre of gravity. The regenerative brakes put some power back into the battery whenever you slow down, and you can increase or decrease the level using wheel-mounted paddles. Combine them with the auto-hold function, and you can achieve “one-pedal” driving, where you use the throttle to accelerate, and then the paddles to slow and stop. But it takes practice and I found the novelty wore off quickly, and I went back to the brake pedal.\n\nArticle content\n\nThe Niro comes with a 7.2-kW onboard charger, and a DC fast-charge port is standard equipment. Most owners will likely install a Level 2 (240-volt) home charger, which is what you get at most public charging stations. On that, a full charge from a depleted battery takes about 9.5 hours.\n\nArticle content\n\nMost owners charge at home, but for long trips they want fast-charge infrastructure, and that remains the Achilles’ heel for EVs. It’s growing, but still has a long way to go. I needed one that took credit cards, since I’m not signed up for a charging network, but not all do. It’s fine for charging companies to offer quick-pay apps as a loyalty program, but *every* station needs to accommodate casual users, just as gas stations do.\n\nArticle content\n\nToggle full screen mode\n\nPrevious Gallery Image\n\n1. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-1.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=ZjAuoi0-FWk1PhXebVpMWQ)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n2. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-21.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=herKEgzZtTrK6r7lEFEFtA)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n3. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-20.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=mwBsWHPRpJYzsX3H42fUYQ)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n4. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-19.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=HOHg1TXvCPsuH43dED8nHw)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n5. ![Kia Niro EV 2021 (18)](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-18.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=KZrtnB7zK8CZwyJthT-ghA)\n   \n   Photo by Jil McIntosh\n6. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-17.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=idyF3gnYF0CTxwOzjOv2Zg)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n7. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-16.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=kh1IvJLQXdZtC31R3yNfPQ)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n8. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-15.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=ckPgTUtJ6ds70dRbustBHQ)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n9. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-14.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=d8nI5c_fsMX3QrIHhmQLhQ)\n   \n   2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n10. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-13.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=al2s4OA6234tEmT4GMYsug)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n11. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-12.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=5iuDjOQG00CO_BIyiBpqDw)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n12. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-11.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=mNSLqvAI9y2ExOmBUX_Rkg)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n13. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-10.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=u6taZGAabDHkk7s626dGcQ)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n14. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-9.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=VyQ-JtQGF6l6UTJJFxBO8A)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n15. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-8.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=zKlpsRP4hXfH_28goOJu2w)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n16. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-7.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=PRm290LM7JhO9jHz_fpvcA)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n17. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-6.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=TS8PYqtMq9G4_AjmT8pinQ)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n18. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-5.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=AM5FuRHajpFmzWBTuFAyJA)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n19. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-4.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=rwKefia90YFzO-5YR0y8gw)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n20. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-3.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=mpueNmTBKX2eFiob-MTpiA)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n21. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-2.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=lJf9xEZwx8OuvYWRSXDrEQ)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n22. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-41.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=hgjoShtf9SA0L6NDWuYbPw)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n23. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-40.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=-4Iz5K79F1ckiWhR1WK5_Q)\n    \n    2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh\n\nNext Gallery Image\n\nToggle gallery captions\n\n![thumbnails](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/common-icon\/icon-thumbnails-black.svg) View All 23 Photos\n\n1 of 23\n\n![Close](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/common-icon\/icon-close-black.svg)\n\nAll 23 Photos for Gallery\n\n1. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 1]()\n2. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 2]()\n3. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 3]()\n4. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 4]()\n5. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 5]()\n6. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 6]()\n7. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 7]()\n8. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 8]()\n9. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 9]()\n10. ![Go to Gallery Image Number 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content\n\nMy local station had four fast chargers, but only one was fully operational and I had to wait for someone to finish using it. It was daylight and outside a large store, but a lot of them are pretty lonely at night, [as writer Kristen Lee pointed out in a story.](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/ev-charging-public-electric-car-chargers-supercharger-network-evs-tesla-2021-3) Just as with the earliest few-and-far-between gas stations, we’re along way from full convenience.\n\nArticle content\n\nBut those are issues with *all* electric cars, and getting back to the Niro, there’s a lot I really like about this little machine — especially its simplicity. So many EVs stick the equivalent of big-screen TV in the centre stack, requiring you to search for and tap an icon to do anything. Most of the Niro’s controls are conventional buttons and dials for the climate and other functions, and they’re easy to use, quick to find, and with little distraction. My complaint is the metallic accent strip bisecting the dash. It’s blinding when the sun hits it, and it’s very tiring to drive any distance with that in your eyes.\n\nArticle content\n\nAdvertisement 3\n\nStory continues below\n\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\n\nArticle content\n\nThe comfortable front seats include plenty of legroom. The second-row chairs are okay if not spectacular for space, and the cargo area is generous. Features on the top-line trim include a sunroof, leather seats, premium stereo, and navigation, along with front and rear heated seats, cooled front seats, and heated steering wheel. Those use a lot of power, but if your butt and hands are comfortable, you’re more likely to turn down the cabin climate, which uses even more juice.\n\nArticle content\n\nElectric cars aren’t for everyone, but then, neither are two-seater sports cars or one-ton pickups, and those are viable for many. If you’re looking at plug-in, look at the Niro. It’s a great little driver, so plug it into your test-drive list and see if it’s the one for you.\n\nArticle content\n\n*Sign up for our newsletter [Blind-Spot Monitor](https:\/\/driving.ca\/newsletters?utm_source=editorial&utm_medium=on_network&utm_campaign=Editorial_Content)  and follow our social channels on [X](https:\/\/twitter.com\/drivingdotca?utm_source=editorial&utm_medium=on_network&utm_campaign=Editorial_Content), [Tiktok](https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@drivingdotca) and [LinkedIn](https:\/\/ca.linkedin.com\/company\/drivingdotca&utm_medium=on_network&utm_campaign=Editorial_Content) to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.*\n\nArticle content\n\nMore in Road Tests\n\n- [SUV Review: 2026 Volkswagen Atlas \\| Reviews]()\n- [Long-term Test Wrap-up: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 \\| Reviews]()\n- [The 2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is an altar to a V12]()\n- [Long-term test update: 2026 Lexus RZ 550e \\| Reviews]()\n- [EV Review: 2026 Toyota BZ \\| Reviews]()\n\n[See more]()\n\n![Jil McIntosh picture](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/00e9bdee72b93678f49fe28bed3d38e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g)\n\n## Jil McIntosh\n\nJil McIntosh specializes in new-car reviews, auto technology and antique cars, including the two 1940s vehicles in her garage. She is currently a freelance Writer at Driving.ca since 2016\n\n### Summary\n· Professional writer for more than 35 years, appearing in some of the top publications in Canada and the U.S.\n\n· Specialties include new-vehicle reviews, old cars and automotive history, automotive news, and “How It Works” columns that explain vehicle features and technology\n\n· Member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) since 2003; voting member for AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards; juror on the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards\n\n### Education\nJil McIntosh graduated from East York Collegiate in Toronto, and then continued her education at the School of Hard Knocks. Her early jobs including driving a taxi in Toronto; and warranty administration in a new-vehicle dealership, where she also held information classes for customers, explaining the inner mechanical workings of vehicles and their features.\n\n### Experience\nJil McIntosh is a freelance writer who has been writing for Driving.ca since 2016, but she’s been a professional writer starting when most cars still had carburetors. At the age of eleven, she had a story published in the defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper, for which she was paid \\$25; given the short length of the story and the dollar’s buying power at the time, that might have been the relatively best-paid piece she’s ever written.\n\nAn old-car enthusiast who owns a 1947 Cadillac and 1949 Studebaker truck, she began her writing career crafting stories for antique-car and hot-rod car club magazines. When the Ontario-based newspaper Old Autos started up in 1987, dedicated to the antique-car hobby, she became a columnist starting with its second issue; the newspaper is still around and she still writes for it. Not long after the Toronto Star launched its Wheels section in 1986 – the first Canadian newspaper to include an auto section – she became one of its regular writers. She started out writing feature stories, and then added “new-vehicle reviewer” to her resume in 1999. She stayed with Wheels, in print and later digital as well, until the publication made a cost-cutting decision to shed its freelance writers. She joined Driving.ca the very next day.\n\nIn addition to Driving.ca, she writes for industry-focused publications, including Automotive News Canada and Autosphere. Over the years, her automotive work also appeared in such publications as Cars & Parts, Street Rodder, Canadian Hot Rods, AutoTrader, Sharp, Taxi News, Maclean’s, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes Wheels, Canadian Driver, Sympatico Autos, and Reader’s Digest. Her non-automotive work, covering such topics as travel, food and drink, rural living, fountain pen collecting, and celebrity interviews, has appeared in publications including Harrowsmith, Where New Orleans, Pen World, The Book for Men, Rural Delivery, and Gambit.\n\n### Major awards won by the author\n2016 AJAC Journalist of the Year; Car Care Canada \/ CAA Safety Journalism award winner in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, runner-up in 2021; Pirelli Photography Award 2015; Environmental Journalism Award 2019; Technical Writing Award 2020; Vehicle Testing Review award 2020, runner-up in 2022; Feature Story award winner 2020; inducted into the Street Rodding Hall of Fame in 1994.\n\n### Contact info\nEmail: jil@ca.inter.net\n\nLinkedin: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jilmcintosh\/\n\nTwitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/JilMcIntosh\n\n[Learn more about Author](https:\/\/driving.ca\/author\/jilmcintosh\/)\n\nShare this article in your social network\n\n- [![Share via email](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-circle-email.svg)](mailto:?Subject=I%20saw%20this%20on%20Driving&Body=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev)\n- [![Reddit](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-rdit.svg)](https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?kind=link&url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title= \"Share on Reddit in new tab\")\n- [![X](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-tw.svg)](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&text=Driving&via=drivingdotca \"Share on X in new tab\")\n- [![Share on Linkedin](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-li.svg)](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev \"Share on LinkedIn\")\n- ![Open more share options](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-circle-share.svg)\n  ![Close](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/common-icon\/icon-close-black.svg)\n  \n  Share this Story : Driving\n  \n  - [Copy Link](https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev)\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-circle-email.svg) Email](mailto:?Subject=I%20saw%20this%20on%20Driving&Body=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev \"Share via email\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-tw.svg) X](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&text=Driving&via=drivingdotca \"Share on X in new tab\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-rdit.svg) Reddit](https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?kind=link&url=https%3A\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title=Driving \"Share on Reddit in new tab\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-pin.svg) Pinterest](https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&media=https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg \"Share on Pinterest in new tab\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-li.svg) LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev \"Share on LinkedIn in new tab\")\n  - [![](https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/share-icons\/icon-soc-tblr.svg) Tumblr](https:\/\/www.tumblr.com\/widgets\/share\/tool?canonicalUrl=https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title=Driving \"Share on Tumblr in new tab\")\n\nAdvertisement 3\n\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet.\n\nComments\n\nYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.\n\n[Create an Account](https:\/\/driving.ca\/register\/)[Sign in](https:\/\/driving.ca\/sign-in\/)\n\nJoin the Conversation\n\nPostmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. 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[Home](https:\/\/driving.ca\/)\n2. [Road Tests](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/reviews\/road-test\/)\n3. [Electric Vehicles](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/vehicle-types\/electric-vehicles\/)\n\n## Electric SUV Review: 2021 Kia Niro EV\nIt drives more like a conventional car, but completely fuel-free\n\nLast updated Nov 05, 2021\n\nYou can save this article by registering for free [here](https:\/\/driving.ca\/register\/). Or [sign-in](https:\/\/driving.ca\/sign-in\/) if you have an account.\n\n![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=375&h=211&sig=QRtEn6aJlNvHVKoPeW9YiA)\n\n2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring Photo by Jil McIntosh\n\nIn the automobile’s earliest days, electric cars could be as popular as gasoline ones. They didn’t have a lot of range, but there weren’t many roads anyway. Their big deal was that, unlike a gas car that had to be cranked, they were just get-in-and-go.\n\nOnce gas engines could start themselves, the electric car pretty much disappeared. But now it’s back and almost all auto manufacturers offer one or have one on the way, and at Kia, you can choose my tester, the 2021 Niro EV.\n\nAlong with all-electric, the Niro is also available as a gas-electric hybrid, or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that can go about 42 km on its battery alone, before reverting to hybrid operation when that charge runs out.\n\nFull Screen is not supported on this browser version.\n\nYou may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.\n\n1. [![Employees work on an electric vehicle (EV) production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua, China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 18, 2024](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Leapmotor-EV-China-electric-vehicle.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=zdL8gokuSL18I571n8koZA)](https:\/\/driving.ca\/column\/motor-mouth\/build-leapmotor-chinese-evs-chrysler-brampton-plant-canada-stellantis)\n   \n   [Motor Mouth](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/column\/motor-mouth\/)\n2. [![2024 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S AWD](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Volkswagen-ID.4-2024-30.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=-1LQyEgJm7wSkHahafUCvg)](https:\/\/driving.ca\/auto-news\/news\/2026-volkswagen-id-4-production-ends-ev-electric-cancelled-canada)\n   \n   [New Vehicles](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/auto-news\/news\/)\n3. [![2027 Mercedes-Benz GLB with EQ Technology](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2027-Mercedes-Benz-GLB-EQ-22.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=ZR3BgQLKRxczxcNAXIw2XA)](https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/2027-mercedes-benz-glb-eq-technology-first-drive-review)\n   \n   [Reviews](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/reviews\/)\n4. [![Start of production for the Volvo EX90](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Volvo-EX90.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=BRdlaFLYzYksKZDi_XsHxg)](https:\/\/driving.ca\/features\/shopping-advice\/canada-u-s-tariff-counter-not-sold-pulled-discontinued-buy-dealership)\n   \n   [Shopping Advice](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/features\/shopping-advice\/)\n5. [![2026 Nissan Leaf](https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/driving\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/250308_All-new_Nissan_LEAF_Dynamic_Pictures_16.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=1a1PI2U-Z8UgkLy0OxJ_0w)](https:\/\/driving.ca\/auto-news\/driver-info\/2026-nissan-leaf-ev-electric-battery-fire-risk-recall-short-circuit-canada)\n   \n   [Info For Drivers](https:\/\/driving.ca\/category\/auto-news\/driver-info\/)\n\nThe Niro EV’s officially-rated range is 385 km, and mine showed as high as 426 km when fully charged. As with any vehicle, exactly how far you get depends on several factors, including ambient temperature and how you drive. Battery vehicles are rated in Le\/100 km, for *litres equivalent —* electric energy translated to a comparable amount of gasoline. The Niro EV comes in at 2.1 Le\/100 km, a virtual match to rivals like the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona Electric.\n\nThe three Niro trims start at \\$44,995 for the EX, and \\$50,695 for the EX Plus. My top-line SX Touring is \\$54,695. Unless you want your Niro painted black, you’ll have to add \\$250 for any other colour.\n\nIn all areas, it qualifies for the federal government’s \\$5,000 “green” rebate. In specific provinces, you can also add a provincial rebate of between \\$3,000 and \\$8,000.\n\nThe Niro powers its front wheels using an electric motor that makes 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, with a single-speed transmission. Electric motors produce their peak torque immediately — unlike a gas engine, which needs to rev up — and the Niro is a peppy thing that more than holds its own in city traffic, or if you want to pass on the highway.\n\nIt drives like a conventional car, with smooth and accurate steering, and well-controlled cornering on curves — since its heavy 64-kW battery is under the floor, it has a low centre of gravity. The regenerative brakes put some power back into the battery whenever you slow down, and you can increase or decrease the level using wheel-mounted paddles. Combine them with the auto-hold function, and you can achieve “one-pedal” driving, where you use the throttle to accelerate, and then the paddles to slow and stop. But it takes practice and I found the novelty wore off quickly, and I went back to the brake pedal.\n\nThe Niro comes with a 7.2-kW onboard charger, and a DC fast-charge port is standard equipment. Most owners will likely install a Level 2 (240-volt) home charger, which is what you get at most public charging stations. On that, a full charge from a depleted battery takes about 9.5 hours.\n\nMost owners charge at home, but for long trips they want fast-charge infrastructure, and that remains the Achilles’ heel for EVs. It’s growing, but still has a long way to go. I needed one that took credit cards, since I’m not signed up for a charging network, but not all do. It’s fine for charging companies to offer quick-pay apps as a loyalty program, but *every* station needs to accommodate casual users, just as gas stations do.\n\nFull Screen is not supported on this browser version.\n\nYou may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.\n\nMy local station had four fast chargers, but only one was fully operational and I had to wait for someone to finish using it. It was daylight and outside a large store, but a lot of them are pretty lonely at night, [as writer Kristen Lee pointed out in a story.](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/ev-charging-public-electric-car-chargers-supercharger-network-evs-tesla-2021-3) Just as with the earliest few-and-far-between gas stations, we’re along way from full convenience.\n\nBut those are issues with *all* electric cars, and getting back to the Niro, there’s a lot I really like about this little machine — especially its simplicity. So many EVs stick the equivalent of big-screen TV in the centre stack, requiring you to search for and tap an icon to do anything. Most of the Niro’s controls are conventional buttons and dials for the climate and other functions, and they’re easy to use, quick to find, and with little distraction. My complaint is the metallic accent strip bisecting the dash. It’s blinding when the sun hits it, and it’s very tiring to drive any distance with that in your eyes.\n\nThe comfortable front seats include plenty of legroom. The second-row chairs are okay if not spectacular for space, and the cargo area is generous. Features on the top-line trim include a sunroof, leather seats, premium stereo, and navigation, along with front and rear heated seats, cooled front seats, and heated steering wheel. Those use a lot of power, but if your butt and hands are comfortable, you’re more likely to turn down the cabin climate, which uses even more juice.\n\nElectric cars aren’t for everyone, but then, neither are two-seater sports cars or one-ton pickups, and those are viable for many. If you’re looking at plug-in, look at the Niro. It’s a great little driver, so plug it into your test-drive list and see if it’s the one for you.\n\n*Sign up for our newsletter [Blind-Spot Monitor](https:\/\/driving.ca\/newsletters?utm_source=editorial&utm_medium=on_network&utm_campaign=Editorial_Content)  and follow our social channels on [X](https:\/\/twitter.com\/drivingdotca?utm_source=editorial&utm_medium=on_network&utm_campaign=Editorial_Content), [Tiktok](https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@drivingdotca) and [LinkedIn](https:\/\/ca.linkedin.com\/company\/drivingdotca&utm_medium=on_network&utm_campaign=Editorial_Content) to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.*\n\n![Jil McIntosh picture](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/00e9bdee72b93678f49fe28bed3d38e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g)\n\n## Jil McIntosh\n\nJil McIntosh specializes in new-car reviews, auto technology and antique cars, including the two 1940s vehicles in her garage. She is currently a freelance Writer at Driving.ca since 2016\n\n### Summary\n· Professional writer for more than 35 years, appearing in some of the top publications in Canada and the U.S.\n\n· Specialties include new-vehicle reviews, old cars and automotive history, automotive news, and “How It Works” columns that explain vehicle features and technology\n\n· Member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) since 2003; voting member for AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards; juror on the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards\n\n### Education\nJil McIntosh graduated from East York Collegiate in Toronto, and then continued her education at the School of Hard Knocks. Her early jobs including driving a taxi in Toronto; and warranty administration in a new-vehicle dealership, where she also held information classes for customers, explaining the inner mechanical workings of vehicles and their features.\n\n### Experience\nJil McIntosh is a freelance writer who has been writing for Driving.ca since 2016, but she’s been a professional writer starting when most cars still had carburetors. At the age of eleven, she had a story published in the defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper, for which she was paid \\$25; given the short length of the story and the dollar’s buying power at the time, that might have been the relatively best-paid piece she’s ever written.\n\nAn old-car enthusiast who owns a 1947 Cadillac and 1949 Studebaker truck, she began her writing career crafting stories for antique-car and hot-rod car club magazines. When the Ontario-based newspaper Old Autos started up in 1987, dedicated to the antique-car hobby, she became a columnist starting with its second issue; the newspaper is still around and she still writes for it. Not long after the Toronto Star launched its Wheels section in 1986 – the first Canadian newspaper to include an auto section – she became one of its regular writers. She started out writing feature stories, and then added “new-vehicle reviewer” to her resume in 1999. She stayed with Wheels, in print and later digital as well, until the publication made a cost-cutting decision to shed its freelance writers. She joined Driving.ca the very next day.\n\nIn addition to Driving.ca, she writes for industry-focused publications, including Automotive News Canada and Autosphere. Over the years, her automotive work also appeared in such publications as Cars & Parts, Street Rodder, Canadian Hot Rods, AutoTrader, Sharp, Taxi News, Maclean’s, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes Wheels, Canadian Driver, Sympatico Autos, and Reader’s Digest. Her non-automotive work, covering such topics as travel, food and drink, rural living, fountain pen collecting, and celebrity interviews, has appeared in publications including Harrowsmith, Where New Orleans, Pen World, The Book for Men, Rural Delivery, and Gambit.\n\n### Major awards won by the author\n2016 AJAC Journalist of the Year; Car Care Canada \/ CAA Safety Journalism award winner in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, runner-up in 2021; Pirelli Photography Award 2015; Environmental Journalism Award 2019; Technical Writing Award 2020; Vehicle Testing Review award 2020, runner-up in 2022; Feature Story award winner 2020; inducted into the Street Rodding Hall of Fame in 1994.\n\n### Contact info\nEmail: jil@ca.inter.net\n\nLinkedin: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jilmcintosh\/\n\nTwitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/JilMcIntosh\n\nThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about [cookies here](https:\/\/driving.ca\/cookie-policy\/). By continuing to use our site, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.postmedia.com\/terms-and-conditions\/ \"Terms of Use (Leaving Driving)\") and [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/driving.ca\/privacy-statement\/en\/).\n\n![Image Placeholder](https:\/\/driving.ca\/reviews\/road-test\/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev)\n\nEdit your picks to remove vehicles if you want to add different ones.\n\nYou can only add up to 5 vehicles to your picks.\n\n![iiq\\_pixel](https:\/\/sync.intentiq.com\/profiles_engine\/ProfilesEngineServlet?at=20&mi=10&secure=1&dpi=1589173297&iiqidtype=2&iiqpcid=8495767d-bd44-3c45-8864-95be7ccd39d1&iiqpciddate=1775877766300&tsrnd=55_1775877766304&jsver=6.122&cz=0%3A12140%2C1%3A1024%2C2%3A1%2C3%3A600%2C4%3A800%2C5%3Aen-US&dw=800&dh=600&dpr=1&lan=en-US&testPercentage=-1&testGroup=U&uh=%7B%220%22%3A%22%22%2C%221%22%3A%22%3F0%22%2C%227%22%3A%22%3F0%22%2C%228%22%3A%22%22%7D&vrref=https%3A%2F%2Fdriving.ca&gpc=undefined&gdpr=0)","meta_canonical":null}

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Or sign-in if you have an account. 2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring Photo by Jil McIntosh In the automobile’s earliest days, electric cars could be as popular as gasoline ones. They didn’t have a lot of range, but there weren’t many roads anyway. Their big deal was that, unlike a gas car that had to be cranked, they were just get-in-and-go. Once gas engines could start themselves, the electric car pretty much disappeared. But now it’s back and almost all auto manufacturers offer one or have one on the way, and at Kia, you can choose my tester, the 2021 Niro EV. Along with all-electric, the Niro is also available as a gas-electric hybrid, or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that can go about 42 km on its battery alone, before reverting to hybrid operation when that charge runs out. Full Screen is not supported on this browser version. You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen. Motor Mouth New Vehicles Reviews Shopping Advice Info For Drivers The Niro EV’s officially-rated range is 385 km, and mine showed as high as 426 km when fully charged. As with any vehicle, exactly how far you get depends on several factors, including ambient temperature and how you drive. Battery vehicles are rated in Le/100 km, for litres equivalent — electric energy translated to a comparable amount of gasoline. The Niro EV comes in at 2.1 Le/100 km, a virtual match to rivals like the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona Electric. The three Niro trims start at $44,995 for the EX, and $50,695 for the EX Plus. My top-line SX Touring is $54,695. Unless you want your Niro painted black, you’ll have to add $250 for any other colour. In all areas, it qualifies for the federal government’s $5,000 “green” rebate. In specific provinces, you can also add a provincial rebate of between $3,000 and $8,000. The Niro powers its front wheels using an electric motor that makes 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, with a single-speed transmission. Electric motors produce their peak torque immediately — unlike a gas engine, which needs to rev up — and the Niro is a peppy thing that more than holds its own in city traffic, or if you want to pass on the highway. It drives like a conventional car, with smooth and accurate steering, and well-controlled cornering on curves — since its heavy 64-kW battery is under the floor, it has a low centre of gravity. The regenerative brakes put some power back into the battery whenever you slow down, and you can increase or decrease the level using wheel-mounted paddles. Combine them with the auto-hold function, and you can achieve “one-pedal” driving, where you use the throttle to accelerate, and then the paddles to slow and stop. But it takes practice and I found the novelty wore off quickly, and I went back to the brake pedal. The Niro comes with a 7.2-kW onboard charger, and a DC fast-charge port is standard equipment. Most owners will likely install a Level 2 (240-volt) home charger, which is what you get at most public charging stations. On that, a full charge from a depleted battery takes about 9.5 hours. Most owners charge at home, but for long trips they want fast-charge infrastructure, and that remains the Achilles’ heel for EVs. It’s growing, but still has a long way to go. I needed one that took credit cards, since I’m not signed up for a charging network, but not all do. It’s fine for charging companies to offer quick-pay apps as a loyalty program, but every station needs to accommodate casual users, just as gas stations do. Full Screen is not supported on this browser version. You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen. My local station had four fast chargers, but only one was fully operational and I had to wait for someone to finish using it. It was daylight and outside a large store, but a lot of them are pretty lonely at night, as writer Kristen Lee pointed out in a story. Just as with the earliest few-and-far-between gas stations, we’re along way from full convenience. But those are issues with all electric cars, and getting back to the Niro, there’s a lot I really like about this little machine — especially its simplicity. So many EVs stick the equivalent of big-screen TV in the centre stack, requiring you to search for and tap an icon to do anything. Most of the Niro’s controls are conventional buttons and dials for the climate and other functions, and they’re easy to use, quick to find, and with little distraction. My complaint is the metallic accent strip bisecting the dash. It’s blinding when the sun hits it, and it’s very tiring to drive any distance with that in your eyes. The comfortable front seats include plenty of legroom. The second-row chairs are okay if not spectacular for space, and the cargo area is generous. Features on the top-line trim include a sunroof, leather seats, premium stereo, and navigation, along with front and rear heated seats, cooled front seats, and heated steering wheel. Those use a lot of power, but if your butt and hands are comfortable, you’re more likely to turn down the cabin climate, which uses even more juice. Electric cars aren’t for everyone, but then, neither are two-seater sports cars or one-ton pickups, and those are viable for many. If you’re looking at plug-in, look at the Niro. It’s a great little driver, so plug it into your test-drive list and see if it’s the one for you. Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X , Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice. Jil McIntosh Jil McIntosh specializes in new-car reviews, auto technology and antique cars, including the two 1940s vehicles in her garage. She is currently a freelance Writer at Driving.ca since 2016 Summary · Professional writer for more than 35 years, appearing in some of the top publications in Canada and the U.S. · Specialties include new-vehicle reviews, old cars and automotive history, automotive news, and “How It Works” columns that explain vehicle features and technology · Member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) since 2003; voting member for AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards; juror on the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards Education Jil McIntosh graduated from East York Collegiate in Toronto, and then continued her education at the School of Hard Knocks. Her early jobs including driving a taxi in Toronto; and warranty administration in a new-vehicle dealership, where she also held information classes for customers, explaining the inner mechanical workings of vehicles and their features. Experience Jil McIntosh is a freelance writer who has been writing for Driving.ca since 2016, but she’s been a professional writer starting when most cars still had carburetors. At the age of eleven, she had a story published in the defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper, for which she was paid $25; given the short length of the story and the dollar’s buying power at the time, that might have been the relatively best-paid piece she’s ever written. An old-car enthusiast who owns a 1947 Cadillac and 1949 Studebaker truck, she began her writing career crafting stories for antique-car and hot-rod car club magazines. When the Ontario-based newspaper Old Autos started up in 1987, dedicated to the antique-car hobby, she became a columnist starting with its second issue; the newspaper is still around and she still writes for it. Not long after the Toronto Star launched its Wheels section in 1986 – the first Canadian newspaper to include an auto section – she became one of its regular writers. She started out writing feature stories, and then added “new-vehicle reviewer” to her resume in 1999. She stayed with Wheels, in print and later digital as well, until the publication made a cost-cutting decision to shed its freelance writers. She joined Driving.ca the very next day. In addition to Driving.ca, she writes for industry-focused publications, including Automotive News Canada and Autosphere. Over the years, her automotive work also appeared in such publications as Cars & Parts, Street Rodder, Canadian Hot Rods, AutoTrader, Sharp, Taxi News, Maclean’s, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes Wheels, Canadian Driver, Sympatico Autos, and Reader’s Digest. Her non-automotive work, covering such topics as travel, food and drink, rural living, fountain pen collecting, and celebrity interviews, has appeared in publications including Harrowsmith, Where New Orleans, Pen World, The Book for Men, Rural Delivery, and Gambit. Major awards won by the author 2016 AJAC Journalist of the Year; Car Care Canada / CAA Safety Journalism award winner in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, runner-up in 2021; Pirelli Photography Award 2015; Environmental Journalism Award 2019; Technical Writing Award 2020; Vehicle Testing Review award 2020, runner-up in 2022; Feature Story award winner 2020; inducted into the Street Rodding Hall of Fame in 1994. Contact info Email: jil@ca.inter.net Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilmcintosh/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JilMcIntosh This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Edit your picks to remove vehicles if you want to add different ones. You can only add up to 5 vehicles to your picks.
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[Electric Vehicles](https://driving.ca/category/vehicle-types/electric-vehicles/) - [![Share via email](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-circle-email.svg)](mailto:?Subject=I%20saw%20this%20on%20Driving&Body=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev) - [![Reddit](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-rdit.svg)](https://www.reddit.com/submit?kind=link&url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title= "Share on Reddit in new tab") - [![X](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-tw.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&text=Driving&via=drivingdotca "Share on X in new tab") - [![Share on Linkedin](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-li.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev "Share on LinkedIn") - ![Open more share options](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-circle-share.svg) ![Close](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/common-icon/icon-close-black.svg) Share this Story : Driving - [Copy Link](https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev) - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-circle-email.svg) Email](mailto:?Subject=I%20saw%20this%20on%20Driving&Body=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev "Share via email") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-tw.svg) X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&text=Driving&via=drivingdotca "Share on X in new tab") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-rdit.svg) Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?kind=link&url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title=Driving "Share on Reddit in new tab") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-pin.svg) Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&media=https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg "Share on Pinterest in new tab") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-li.svg) LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev "Share on LinkedIn in new tab") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-tblr.svg) Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?canonicalUrl=https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title=Driving "Share on Tumblr in new tab") # Electric SUV Review: 2021 Kia Niro EV It drives more like a conventional car, but completely fuel-free Author of the article: By [Jil McIntosh](https://driving.ca/author/jilmcintosh/) Published Nov 01, 2021 Last updated Nov 05, 2021 4 minute read [Join the conversation](https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev#comments-area) You can save this article by registering for free [here](https://driving.ca/register/). Or [sign-in](https://driving.ca/sign-in/) if you have an account. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=375&h=211&sig=QRtEn6aJlNvHVKoPeW9YiA) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring Photo by Jil McIntosh Article content In the automobile’s earliest days, electric cars could be as popular as gasoline ones. They didn’t have a lot of range, but there weren’t many roads anyway. Their big deal was that, unlike a gas car that had to be cranked, they were just get-in-and-go. Article content Once gas engines could start themselves, the electric car pretty much disappeared. But now it’s back and almost all auto manufacturers offer one or have one on the way, and at Kia, you can choose my tester, the 2021 Niro EV. Article content ![Loading...](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/common/icon-spinner-animated.svg) We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or [tap here to see other videos from our team](https://driving.ca/video-centre/ "Video Centre"). ##### 2021 Kia Niro EV \\| SUV Review \\| Driving.ca Back to video ![Close sticky video]() ![Loading...](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/common/icon-spinner-animated.svg) We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or [tap here to see other videos from our team](https://driving.ca/video-centre/ "Video Centre"). Pause Video 2021 Kia Niro EV \\| SUV Review \\| Driving.ca In the automobile’s earliest days, electric cars could be as popular as gasoline ones. They didn’t have a lot of range, but there weren’t many roads anyway. Their big deal was that, unlike a gas car that had to be cranked, they were just get-in-and-go. Once gas engines could start themselves, the electric car pretty much disappeared. But now it’s back and almost all auto manufacturers offer one or have one on the way, and at Kia, you can choose my tester, the 2021 Niro EV. Along with all-electric, the Niro is also available as a gas-electric hybrid, or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that can go about 42 km on its battery alone, before reverting to hybrid operation when that charge runs out. For the full story, check out Driving.ca \#electricvehicles \#allelectric 0 of 5 minutes, 24 secondsVolume 0% Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled Shortcuts Open/Close/ or ? Play/PauseSPACE Increase Volume↑ Decrease Volume↓ Seek Forward→ Seek Backward← Captions On/Offc Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf Mute/Unmutem Decrease Caption Size\- Increase Caption Size\+ or = Seek %0-9 Next Up 2026 Kia EV4 vs Nissan Leaf \\| EV Comparison \\| Driving.ca 25:30 Subtitle Settings Off Automated Captions - en-US Font Color White Font Opacity 100% Font Size 100% Font Family sans-serif Character Edge None Edge Color Black Background Color Black Background Opacity 75% Window Color Black Window Opacity 0% Reset White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 200% 175% 150% 125% 100% 75% 50% Arial Courier Georgia Impact Lucida Console Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop Shadow White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% facebook x Email linkedin Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/Vu69Q4Aa Copied Auto360p 1080p 720p 540p 360p 270p 180p Live 00:01 05:22 05:24 More Videos 25:30 2026 Kia EV4 vs Nissan Leaf \\| EV Comparison \\| Driving.ca 11:02 2026 Volkswagen Atlas \\| Testing VW’s largest SUV ever! \\| Driving.ca 04:56 Winter testing the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 in -20! \\| Long-Term Test Wrap-Up \\| Driving.ca Close Article content Advertisement 1 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Along with all-electric, the Niro is also available as a gas-electric hybrid, or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that can go about 42 km on its battery alone, before reverting to hybrid operation when that charge runs out. Article content Toggle full screen mode Previous Gallery Image 1. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-29.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=vUERp8al6sPBvkPpj9GMtw) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 2. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-32.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=8ACdY9h29q2qvr4gxg8BHw) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 3. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-39.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=7ibsr1uRxhYqxt5Qjol3sQ) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 4. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-38.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=yRri1ZxbFVvytASWmMExtA) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 5. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-37.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=H3Cbnq2ywW2FJbodE-DsSw) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 6. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=Jj1eiwni7daNoWphWJWWFw) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 7. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-35.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=WPMcozUGOuQARCQ9OZc2Aw) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 8. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-34.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=xrl0bcNLLohanfG8iciv4Q) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 9. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX 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You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen. OK Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet. Trending 1. [Motor Mouth: The case for building Leapmotor Chinese EVs in Canada](https://driving.ca/column/motor-mouth/build-leapmotor-chinese-evs-chrysler-brampton-plant-canada-stellantis) [![Employees work on an electric vehicle (EV) production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua, China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 18, 2024](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Leapmotor-EV-China-electric-vehicle.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=0_716sYENXAvQ7I6VoIDGg)](https://driving.ca/column/motor-mouth/build-leapmotor-chinese-evs-chrysler-brampton-plant-canada-stellantis) [Motor Mouth](https://driving.ca/category/column/motor-mouth/) 2. 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[8 U.S.-built vehicles you can’t buy in Canada due to tariffs](https://driving.ca/features/shopping-advice/canada-u-s-tariff-counter-not-sold-pulled-discontinued-buy-dealership) [![Start of production for the Volvo EX90](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Volvo-EX90.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=WyZAND_dXzRyADnL0uNXaQ)](https://driving.ca/features/shopping-advice/canada-u-s-tariff-counter-not-sold-pulled-discontinued-buy-dealership) [Shopping Advice](https://driving.ca/category/features/shopping-advice/) 5. [Nissan asks owners to stop charging new Leaf EVs](https://driving.ca/auto-news/driver-info/2026-nissan-leaf-ev-electric-battery-fire-risk-recall-short-circuit-canada) [![2026 Nissan Leaf](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/250308_All-new_Nissan_LEAF_Dynamic_Pictures_16.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=XVQ94JG5bmAxTp7zwxfx_A)](https://driving.ca/auto-news/driver-info/2026-nissan-leaf-ev-electric-battery-fire-risk-recall-short-circuit-canada) [Info For Drivers](https://driving.ca/category/auto-news/driver-info/) Advertisement 2 Advertisement This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The Niro EV’s officially-rated range is 385 km, and mine showed as high as 426 km when fully charged. As with any vehicle, exactly how far you get depends on several factors, including ambient temperature and how you drive. Battery vehicles are rated in Le/100 km, for litres equivalent — electric energy translated to a comparable amount of gasoline. The Niro EV comes in at 2.1 Le/100 km, a virtual match to rivals like the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona Electric. Article content Article content ## Learn more about the cars PREV 1. [2026 Kia Niro EV 2026 Kia Niro EV 3.75 out of 5 ![](https://d2ivfcfbdvj3sm.cloudfront.net/R3a6GqmduW0wBMdA/56507/stills_0640_png/MY2025/56507/56507_st0640_116.webp?c=172&p=164&m=1&o=png&s=85gl4F1dIXGwsz1D0I_o6n) MSRP \$45,595 to \$53,595](https://driving.ca/kia/niro-ev/) Add to Compare Remove Vehicle NEXT Article content Read More 1. [![Latest Details: 2022 Kia EV6](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ev6-9.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=jveVyUu8Sbwa6QVfPnSdbA) Latest Details: 2022 Kia EV6](https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/latest-details-2022-kia-ev6) 2. [![Commuter Review: 2021 Kia Forte5](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forte52.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=5&sig=LIACj-YREyqk89bGVqLLFg) Commuter Review: 2021 Kia Forte5](https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/commuter-review-2021-kia-forte5) 3. Advertisement 1 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The three Niro trims start at \$44,995 for the EX, and \$50,695 for the EX Plus. My top-line SX Touring is \$54,695. Unless you want your Niro painted black, you’ll have to add \$250 for any other colour. Article content In all areas, it qualifies for the federal government’s \$5,000 “green” rebate. In specific provinces, you can also add a provincial rebate of between \$3,000 and \$8,000. Article content The Niro powers its front wheels using an electric motor that makes 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, with a single-speed transmission. Electric motors produce their peak torque immediately — unlike a gas engine, which needs to rev up — and the Niro is a peppy thing that more than holds its own in city traffic, or if you want to pass on the highway. Article content Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content It drives like a conventional car, with smooth and accurate steering, and well-controlled cornering on curves — since its heavy 64-kW battery is under the floor, it has a low centre of gravity. The regenerative brakes put some power back into the battery whenever you slow down, and you can increase or decrease the level using wheel-mounted paddles. Combine them with the auto-hold function, and you can achieve “one-pedal” driving, where you use the throttle to accelerate, and then the paddles to slow and stop. But it takes practice and I found the novelty wore off quickly, and I went back to the brake pedal. Article content The Niro comes with a 7.2-kW onboard charger, and a DC fast-charge port is standard equipment. Most owners will likely install a Level 2 (240-volt) home charger, which is what you get at most public charging stations. On that, a full charge from a depleted battery takes about 9.5 hours. Article content Most owners charge at home, but for long trips they want fast-charge infrastructure, and that remains the Achilles’ heel for EVs. It’s growing, but still has a long way to go. I needed one that took credit cards, since I’m not signed up for a charging network, but not all do. It’s fine for charging companies to offer quick-pay apps as a loyalty program, but every station needs to accommodate casual users, just as gas stations do. Article content Toggle full screen mode Previous Gallery Image 1. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-1.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=ZjAuoi0-FWk1PhXebVpMWQ) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 2. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-21.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=herKEgzZtTrK6r7lEFEFtA) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 3. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-20.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=mwBsWHPRpJYzsX3H42fUYQ) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 4. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-19.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=HOHg1TXvCPsuH43dED8nHw) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 5. ![Kia Niro EV 2021 (18)](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-18.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=KZrtnB7zK8CZwyJthT-ghA) Photo by Jil McIntosh 6. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-17.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=idyF3gnYF0CTxwOzjOv2Zg) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 7. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-16.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=kh1IvJLQXdZtC31R3yNfPQ) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 8. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-15.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=ckPgTUtJ6ds70dRbustBHQ) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 9. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-14.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=d8nI5c_fsMX3QrIHhmQLhQ) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 10. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-13.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=al2s4OA6234tEmT4GMYsug) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 11. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-12.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=5iuDjOQG00CO_BIyiBpqDw) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 12. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-11.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=mNSLqvAI9y2ExOmBUX_Rkg) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 13. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-10.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=u6taZGAabDHkk7s626dGcQ) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 14. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-9.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=VyQ-JtQGF6l6UTJJFxBO8A) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 15. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-8.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=zKlpsRP4hXfH_28goOJu2w) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 16. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-7.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=PRm290LM7JhO9jHz_fpvcA) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 17. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-6.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=TS8PYqtMq9G4_AjmT8pinQ) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 18. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-5.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=AM5FuRHajpFmzWBTuFAyJA) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 19. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-4.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=rwKefia90YFzO-5YR0y8gw) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 20. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-3.jpg?quality=5&strip=all&w=100&sig=mpueNmTBKX2eFiob-MTpiA) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX TouringPhoto by Jil McIntosh 21. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX 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You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen. OK Advertisement 2 This advertisement has not loaded yet. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content My local station had four fast chargers, but only one was fully operational and I had to wait for someone to finish using it. It was daylight and outside a large store, but a lot of them are pretty lonely at night, [as writer Kristen Lee pointed out in a story.](https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-charging-public-electric-car-chargers-supercharger-network-evs-tesla-2021-3) Just as with the earliest few-and-far-between gas stations, we’re along way from full convenience. Article content But those are issues with all electric cars, and getting back to the Niro, there’s a lot I really like about this little machine — especially its simplicity. So many EVs stick the equivalent of big-screen TV in the centre stack, requiring you to search for and tap an icon to do anything. Most of the Niro’s controls are conventional buttons and dials for the climate and other functions, and they’re easy to use, quick to find, and with little distraction. My complaint is the metallic accent strip bisecting the dash. It’s blinding when the sun hits it, and it’s very tiring to drive any distance with that in your eyes. Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The comfortable front seats include plenty of legroom. The second-row chairs are okay if not spectacular for space, and the cargo area is generous. Features on the top-line trim include a sunroof, leather seats, premium stereo, and navigation, along with front and rear heated seats, cooled front seats, and heated steering wheel. Those use a lot of power, but if your butt and hands are comfortable, you’re more likely to turn down the cabin climate, which uses even more juice. Article content Electric cars aren’t for everyone, but then, neither are two-seater sports cars or one-ton pickups, and those are viable for many. If you’re looking at plug-in, look at the Niro. It’s a great little driver, so plug it into your test-drive list and see if it’s the one for you. 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Article content More in Road Tests - [SUV Review: 2026 Volkswagen Atlas \\| Reviews]() - [Long-term Test Wrap-up: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 \\| Reviews]() - [The 2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is an altar to a V12]() - [Long-term test update: 2026 Lexus RZ 550e \\| Reviews]() - [EV Review: 2026 Toyota BZ \\| Reviews]() [See more]() ![Jil McIntosh picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/00e9bdee72b93678f49fe28bed3d38e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g) ## Jil McIntosh Jil McIntosh specializes in new-car reviews, auto technology and antique cars, including the two 1940s vehicles in her garage. She is currently a freelance Writer at Driving.ca since 2016 ### Summary · Professional writer for more than 35 years, appearing in some of the top publications in Canada and the U.S. · Specialties include new-vehicle reviews, old cars and automotive history, automotive news, and “How It Works” columns that explain vehicle features and technology · Member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) since 2003; voting member for AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards; juror on the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards ### Education Jil McIntosh graduated from East York Collegiate in Toronto, and then continued her education at the School of Hard Knocks. Her early jobs including driving a taxi in Toronto; and warranty administration in a new-vehicle dealership, where she also held information classes for customers, explaining the inner mechanical workings of vehicles and their features. ### Experience Jil McIntosh is a freelance writer who has been writing for Driving.ca since 2016, but she’s been a professional writer starting when most cars still had carburetors. At the age of eleven, she had a story published in the defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper, for which she was paid \$25; given the short length of the story and the dollar’s buying power at the time, that might have been the relatively best-paid piece she’s ever written. An old-car enthusiast who owns a 1947 Cadillac and 1949 Studebaker truck, she began her writing career crafting stories for antique-car and hot-rod car club magazines. When the Ontario-based newspaper Old Autos started up in 1987, dedicated to the antique-car hobby, she became a columnist starting with its second issue; the newspaper is still around and she still writes for it. Not long after the Toronto Star launched its Wheels section in 1986 – the first Canadian newspaper to include an auto section – she became one of its regular writers. She started out writing feature stories, and then added “new-vehicle reviewer” to her resume in 1999. She stayed with Wheels, in print and later digital as well, until the publication made a cost-cutting decision to shed its freelance writers. She joined Driving.ca the very next day. In addition to Driving.ca, she writes for industry-focused publications, including Automotive News Canada and Autosphere. Over the years, her automotive work also appeared in such publications as Cars & Parts, Street Rodder, Canadian Hot Rods, AutoTrader, Sharp, Taxi News, Maclean’s, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes Wheels, Canadian Driver, Sympatico Autos, and Reader’s Digest. Her non-automotive work, covering such topics as travel, food and drink, rural living, fountain pen collecting, and celebrity interviews, has appeared in publications including Harrowsmith, Where New Orleans, Pen World, The Book for Men, Rural Delivery, and Gambit. ### Major awards won by the author 2016 AJAC Journalist of the Year; Car Care Canada / CAA Safety Journalism award winner in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, runner-up in 2021; Pirelli Photography Award 2015; Environmental Journalism Award 2019; Technical Writing Award 2020; Vehicle Testing Review award 2020, runner-up in 2022; Feature Story award winner 2020; inducted into the Street Rodding Hall of Fame in 1994. ### Contact info Email: jil@ca.inter.net Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilmcintosh/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JilMcIntosh [Learn more about Author](https://driving.ca/author/jilmcintosh/) Share this article in your social network - [![Share via email](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-circle-email.svg)](mailto:?Subject=I%20saw%20this%20on%20Driving&Body=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev) - [![Reddit](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-rdit.svg)](https://www.reddit.com/submit?kind=link&url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title= "Share on Reddit in new tab") - [![X](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-tw.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&text=Driving&via=drivingdotca "Share on X in new tab") - [![Share on Linkedin](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-li.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev "Share on LinkedIn") - ![Open more share options](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-circle-share.svg) ![Close](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/common-icon/icon-close-black.svg) Share this Story : Driving - [Copy Link](https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev) - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-circle-email.svg) Email](mailto:?Subject=I%20saw%20this%20on%20Driving&Body=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev "Share via email") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-tw.svg) X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&text=Driving&via=drivingdotca "Share on X in new tab") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-rdit.svg) Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?kind=link&url=https%3A//driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title=Driving "Share on Reddit in new tab") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-pin.svg) Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&media=https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg "Share on Pinterest in new tab") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-li.svg) LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev "Share on LinkedIn in new tab") - [![](https://dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital/20.9.1/websites/images/share-icons/icon-soc-tblr.svg) Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?canonicalUrl=https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/electric-suv-review-2021-kia-niro-ev&title=Driving "Share on Tumblr in new tab") Advertisement 3 This advertisement has not loaded yet. 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[Home](https://driving.ca/) 2. [Road Tests](https://driving.ca/category/reviews/road-test/) 3. [Electric Vehicles](https://driving.ca/category/vehicle-types/electric-vehicles/) ## Electric SUV Review: 2021 Kia Niro EV It drives more like a conventional car, but completely fuel-free Last updated Nov 05, 2021 You can save this article by registering for free [here](https://driving.ca/register/). Or [sign-in](https://driving.ca/sign-in/) if you have an account. ![2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kia-Niro-EV-2021-36.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=375&h=211&sig=QRtEn6aJlNvHVKoPeW9YiA) 2021 Kia Niro EV SX Touring Photo by Jil McIntosh In the automobile’s earliest days, electric cars could be as popular as gasoline ones. They didn’t have a lot of range, but there weren’t many roads anyway. Their big deal was that, unlike a gas car that had to be cranked, they were just get-in-and-go. Once gas engines could start themselves, the electric car pretty much disappeared. But now it’s back and almost all auto manufacturers offer one or have one on the way, and at Kia, you can choose my tester, the 2021 Niro EV. Along with all-electric, the Niro is also available as a gas-electric hybrid, or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that can go about 42 km on its battery alone, before reverting to hybrid operation when that charge runs out. Full Screen is not supported on this browser version. You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen. 1. [![Employees work on an electric vehicle (EV) production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua, China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 18, 2024](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Leapmotor-EV-China-electric-vehicle.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=zdL8gokuSL18I571n8koZA)](https://driving.ca/column/motor-mouth/build-leapmotor-chinese-evs-chrysler-brampton-plant-canada-stellantis) [Motor Mouth](https://driving.ca/category/column/motor-mouth/) 2. [![2024 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S AWD](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Volkswagen-ID.4-2024-30.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=-1LQyEgJm7wSkHahafUCvg)](https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/2026-volkswagen-id-4-production-ends-ev-electric-cancelled-canada) [New Vehicles](https://driving.ca/category/auto-news/news/) 3. [![2027 Mercedes-Benz GLB with EQ Technology](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2027-Mercedes-Benz-GLB-EQ-22.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=ZR3BgQLKRxczxcNAXIw2XA)](https://driving.ca/reviews/2027-mercedes-benz-glb-eq-technology-first-drive-review) [Reviews](https://driving.ca/category/reviews/) 4. [![Start of production for the Volvo EX90](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Volvo-EX90.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=BRdlaFLYzYksKZDi_XsHxg)](https://driving.ca/features/shopping-advice/canada-u-s-tariff-counter-not-sold-pulled-discontinued-buy-dealership) [Shopping Advice](https://driving.ca/category/features/shopping-advice/) 5. [![2026 Nissan Leaf](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/250308_All-new_Nissan_LEAF_Dynamic_Pictures_16.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=232&sig=1a1PI2U-Z8UgkLy0OxJ_0w)](https://driving.ca/auto-news/driver-info/2026-nissan-leaf-ev-electric-battery-fire-risk-recall-short-circuit-canada) [Info For Drivers](https://driving.ca/category/auto-news/driver-info/) The Niro EV’s officially-rated range is 385 km, and mine showed as high as 426 km when fully charged. As with any vehicle, exactly how far you get depends on several factors, including ambient temperature and how you drive. Battery vehicles are rated in Le/100 km, for litres equivalent — electric energy translated to a comparable amount of gasoline. The Niro EV comes in at 2.1 Le/100 km, a virtual match to rivals like the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona Electric. The three Niro trims start at \$44,995 for the EX, and \$50,695 for the EX Plus. My top-line SX Touring is \$54,695. Unless you want your Niro painted black, you’ll have to add \$250 for any other colour. In all areas, it qualifies for the federal government’s \$5,000 “green” rebate. In specific provinces, you can also add a provincial rebate of between \$3,000 and \$8,000. The Niro powers its front wheels using an electric motor that makes 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, with a single-speed transmission. Electric motors produce their peak torque immediately — unlike a gas engine, which needs to rev up — and the Niro is a peppy thing that more than holds its own in city traffic, or if you want to pass on the highway. It drives like a conventional car, with smooth and accurate steering, and well-controlled cornering on curves — since its heavy 64-kW battery is under the floor, it has a low centre of gravity. The regenerative brakes put some power back into the battery whenever you slow down, and you can increase or decrease the level using wheel-mounted paddles. Combine them with the auto-hold function, and you can achieve “one-pedal” driving, where you use the throttle to accelerate, and then the paddles to slow and stop. But it takes practice and I found the novelty wore off quickly, and I went back to the brake pedal. The Niro comes with a 7.2-kW onboard charger, and a DC fast-charge port is standard equipment. Most owners will likely install a Level 2 (240-volt) home charger, which is what you get at most public charging stations. On that, a full charge from a depleted battery takes about 9.5 hours. Most owners charge at home, but for long trips they want fast-charge infrastructure, and that remains the Achilles’ heel for EVs. It’s growing, but still has a long way to go. I needed one that took credit cards, since I’m not signed up for a charging network, but not all do. It’s fine for charging companies to offer quick-pay apps as a loyalty program, but every station needs to accommodate casual users, just as gas stations do. Full Screen is not supported on this browser version. You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen. My local station had four fast chargers, but only one was fully operational and I had to wait for someone to finish using it. It was daylight and outside a large store, but a lot of them are pretty lonely at night, [as writer Kristen Lee pointed out in a story.](https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-charging-public-electric-car-chargers-supercharger-network-evs-tesla-2021-3) Just as with the earliest few-and-far-between gas stations, we’re along way from full convenience. But those are issues with all electric cars, and getting back to the Niro, there’s a lot I really like about this little machine — especially its simplicity. So many EVs stick the equivalent of big-screen TV in the centre stack, requiring you to search for and tap an icon to do anything. Most of the Niro’s controls are conventional buttons and dials for the climate and other functions, and they’re easy to use, quick to find, and with little distraction. My complaint is the metallic accent strip bisecting the dash. It’s blinding when the sun hits it, and it’s very tiring to drive any distance with that in your eyes. The comfortable front seats include plenty of legroom. The second-row chairs are okay if not spectacular for space, and the cargo area is generous. Features on the top-line trim include a sunroof, leather seats, premium stereo, and navigation, along with front and rear heated seats, cooled front seats, and heated steering wheel. Those use a lot of power, but if your butt and hands are comfortable, you’re more likely to turn down the cabin climate, which uses even more juice. Electric cars aren’t for everyone, but then, neither are two-seater sports cars or one-ton pickups, and those are viable for many. If you’re looking at plug-in, look at the Niro. It’s a great little driver, so plug it into your test-drive list and see if it’s the one for you. Sign up for our newsletter [Blind-Spot Monitor](https://driving.ca/newsletters?utm_source=editorial&utm_medium=on_network&utm_campaign=Editorial_Content) and follow our social channels on [X](https://twitter.com/drivingdotca?utm_source=editorial&utm_medium=on_network&utm_campaign=Editorial_Content), [Tiktok](https://www.tiktok.com/@drivingdotca) and [LinkedIn](https://ca.linkedin.com/company/drivingdotca&utm_medium=on_network&utm_campaign=Editorial_Content) to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice. ![Jil McIntosh picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/00e9bdee72b93678f49fe28bed3d38e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g) ## Jil McIntosh Jil McIntosh specializes in new-car reviews, auto technology and antique cars, including the two 1940s vehicles in her garage. She is currently a freelance Writer at Driving.ca since 2016 ### Summary · Professional writer for more than 35 years, appearing in some of the top publications in Canada and the U.S. · Specialties include new-vehicle reviews, old cars and automotive history, automotive news, and “How It Works” columns that explain vehicle features and technology · Member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) since 2003; voting member for AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards; juror on the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards ### Education Jil McIntosh graduated from East York Collegiate in Toronto, and then continued her education at the School of Hard Knocks. Her early jobs including driving a taxi in Toronto; and warranty administration in a new-vehicle dealership, where she also held information classes for customers, explaining the inner mechanical workings of vehicles and their features. ### Experience Jil McIntosh is a freelance writer who has been writing for Driving.ca since 2016, but she’s been a professional writer starting when most cars still had carburetors. At the age of eleven, she had a story published in the defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper, for which she was paid \$25; given the short length of the story and the dollar’s buying power at the time, that might have been the relatively best-paid piece she’s ever written. An old-car enthusiast who owns a 1947 Cadillac and 1949 Studebaker truck, she began her writing career crafting stories for antique-car and hot-rod car club magazines. When the Ontario-based newspaper Old Autos started up in 1987, dedicated to the antique-car hobby, she became a columnist starting with its second issue; the newspaper is still around and she still writes for it. Not long after the Toronto Star launched its Wheels section in 1986 – the first Canadian newspaper to include an auto section – she became one of its regular writers. She started out writing feature stories, and then added “new-vehicle reviewer” to her resume in 1999. She stayed with Wheels, in print and later digital as well, until the publication made a cost-cutting decision to shed its freelance writers. She joined Driving.ca the very next day. In addition to Driving.ca, she writes for industry-focused publications, including Automotive News Canada and Autosphere. Over the years, her automotive work also appeared in such publications as Cars & Parts, Street Rodder, Canadian Hot Rods, AutoTrader, Sharp, Taxi News, Maclean’s, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes Wheels, Canadian Driver, Sympatico Autos, and Reader’s Digest. Her non-automotive work, covering such topics as travel, food and drink, rural living, fountain pen collecting, and celebrity interviews, has appeared in publications including Harrowsmith, Where New Orleans, Pen World, The Book for Men, Rural Delivery, and Gambit. ### Major awards won by the author 2016 AJAC Journalist of the Year; Car Care Canada / CAA Safety Journalism award winner in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, runner-up in 2021; Pirelli Photography Award 2015; Environmental Journalism Award 2019; Technical Writing Award 2020; Vehicle Testing Review award 2020, runner-up in 2022; Feature Story award winner 2020; inducted into the Street Rodding Hall of Fame in 1994. ### Contact info Email: jil@ca.inter.net Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilmcintosh/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JilMcIntosh This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about [cookies here](https://driving.ca/cookie-policy/). 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